Friday, Jan. 02, 2009

Clothier Bonney & Gordon going out of business

Bonney & Gordon, the iconic Sacramento clothier whose wares were worn by generations of professionals, athletes and political figures, is going out of business after 61 years, another retailer to fall to tough economic times, the store owners said today.

The high-end specialty retailer with the distinctive circular showroom at Town & Country Village waged a constant battle for market share with mass retailers, discounters and the Internet, but maintained its niche with a loyal, longtime customer base and a personal brand of customer service.

Ultimately, the regional housing collapse was the store's undoing, said Bonney & Gordon president Fred Knowles.

"We've been fighting this for 28 months, about the same time housing began to tank, but the last eight months have been horrible," Knowles said. "We've had good customers, made good friends, but it's not been a good couple of years."

Knowles and vice president Lee Whitaker said as much in a letter to customers this week.

"This economic downturn has claimed another victim. We cannot continue and remain profitable," the letter read.

Customers and employees alike -- many who had worked together for 25 years or more -- were saddened by the news that Bonney & Gordon was closing for good. The store opened in 1947.

"I saw the letter and said, 'Oh my goodness.' It's bad news, very bad news,' " said Wilmonte Penner, a Sacramento orthodontist and a customer since 1966. "There are a lot of places where you can buy things, but they're not as nice as Bonney & Gordon. It comes as a real shock."

Knowles will begin to liquidate the store later this month and expects the sale to last about 60 days.

Call The Bee's Darrell Smith, (916) 321-1040.